Taking an August trip to Horseshoe Lake. Looking for some campsite and fishing knowledge. Thanks

moosehead8: "Taking an August trip to Horseshoe Lake. Looking for some campsite and fishing knowledge. Thanks"

I didn't catch a thing there last early July, so don't look to me for fishing advice!

For campsites, I checked out several of them....the southeasternmost one has it's charm - seclusion would be excellent. But it's pretty small (1-2 people probably) and kind of in a swampy bay - you don't have any type of big expansive view of the lake.

There are three in the central part of the lake...I landed at all of them and chose the southernmost one. I don't remember what I didn't like about the other 2, but that one I did choose is really nice. It's up on a hill, and has a couple really nice vistas you can walk out to and/or fish from. It's not great for swimming though - too many weeds.

That's all the sites I landed at...the northern one on the peninsula looked nice from the lake.

Check out the maps section here and click on the red dots - you'll find more info there.

which Horseshoe?

The gunflint area

I Soloed in that area a few years ago in October. I stayed at campsite 673 Located on the East side(closed end of the Horseshoe). It is a large site with a great fire pit where a very large group can sit. Can swim off the rocks heading into the water. The site across the gap 675 is also a nice one. If you really want seclusion and a great chance to see moose go to the far east site where the Brule river comes in site 676. I went that way on my way to hit Vista and Misquah Lake. Another option, but might not be open is the south site on Vista heading to the Vista portage # 771. I stayed there my last night and was visited by a bear in the early morning. I love the view of this gorgeous lake. Fishing for Walleye and Smallmouth was awesome . Caught Smallies and walleye near the campsite 676 where the river comes in, also by the point across from the portage into Horseshoe from Caribou. In the small inlet just beyond that heading south you got into some smaller Perch. In Vista big smallmouth around the Island as you come in from Horseshoe. Caught a limit of Walleye around the Islands by the campsite #772 . I did troll a lot while I was moving along between lakes. Picked off a few pike here and there. If you get a chance you could try deep water fishing for lake trout in Misquah. I am not sure how long you will have but I could provide additional fishing info for some of the other lakes in the area. Good luck. I loved this area of the BWCA

Depending on what day you enter and what time of day, you may find Horseshoe completely full. Entry 47 is very popular and early Aug is a popular time in the BW. You may find that you will have to continue on into Gaskin or even Henson. I would encourage you to do some research on those lakes and sites as well.

We don't usually fish so I can't address that part of your query.

We camped on site 673 for a couple of nights in Aug 2015. The lake was crowded but not full when we arrived midday.

It was a great site, with the main area a little bit up from the lake and more private than some others. The site across from us looked nice too, with a rock jutting in to the lake that was being used as a moose viewing site by the people staying there.

it was moose central when we were there.

Horseshoe Lake Mama moose and her twins